Before you hire anyone to remodel or repair your home in Merlin, look them up on the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license search and confirm three things: the license is active, the name on it matches the business you are hiring, and a surety bond is on file. The search is free on the CCB website, or you can call the CCB at 503-378-4621.
To be licensed in Oregon, a contractor takes training and passes a test on business practices and law. If the contractor you hire is not licensed, the CCB bond and its dispute resolution services are not available to you. Here is what to look for, as of October 2026.
What should a contractor's CCB record show?
A contractor's CCB record shows whether the license is active and bonded, whether proof of liability insurance was filed when the license was issued and at each renewal, and whether the contractor carries workers' compensation insurance for its workers. Click into the record to see the license history, including any complaints or disciplinary actions filed with the CCB in the past 10 years.
- The license is active.
- The name on the license matches the business on your estimate.
- A surety bond is on file.
- Proof of liability insurance was filed.
- For a house built before 1978, the contractor is licensed to work on homes that could contain lead-based paint.
- Any complaints or discipline in the past 10 years are listed, and you have read them.
Our own license is CCB #262337, held by Rogue River Repaints and Construction LLC as a residential general contractor. Search that number to try the lookup before you search anyone else's.
What does a CCB license and bond not cover?
A CCB license does not guarantee a contractor's work. The CCB surety bond gives a limited amount of financial security if a contractor is ordered to pay damages in a contract dispute, and the CCB says it is not meant to be a safety net for every loss. The residential bond does not cover attorney fees, and the only way to reach a contractor's bond is a signed judgment from a court. For a large project, the CCB suggests homeowners look into a performance bond.
What goes in the written contract for a job in Merlin?
A contract over $2,000 must be in writing, and the CCB recommends a written contract for jobs of every price. The CCB's Consumer Protection Notice suggests the contract list the materials and costs, permits, estimated start and completion dates, debris removal and any arbitration clause, along with the contractor's name, CCB number and contact information. Oregon law requires a contractor working on a home to give you that notice when the written contract is signed.
The same notice says the contract should include a payment schedule, and that you should never pay in full for a project before the work is complete. For a large project, the CCB suggests getting bids from at least three contractors and checking at least three references before you hire one for a renovation.
What can I do if a home repair goes wrong after the job?
You can file a complaint with the CCB against a licensed contractor. On an existing house, the complaint has to reach the CCB within one year of the date the work was substantially completed or stopped. Before you file, you send the contractor 30 days' pre-complaint notice by certified mail to the address the board has on record.
We take on remodels and home repairs in Merlin and across Josephine County, from wood rot and storm damage to new siding. See our remodels and repairs service. John York looks at every Merlin job before he gives a price. Request your free estimate or reach him by phone or text at (541) 299-5331.
